Documentary, history, WWII

Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle (15 June 1906 -- 31 March 1994) was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS (becoming a leader of its Walloon contingent) which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union and communism.

Promotions: 12 February 1942; Gefreiter (Heer) 28 February 1942; Oberfeldwebel (Heer) 1 May 1942; Leutnant d. R. (Heer) 1 June 1943; SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS 1 January 1944; SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS 20 April 1944; SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS 1 January 1945; SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS 20 April 1945; SS-Standartenführer d. R. der Waffen-SS Degrelle was promoted directly to SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor der Waffen-SS d. R. by Heinrich Himmler on 02 May 1945; an entry to this effect appears in his Soldbuch, however this promotion cannot be considered official as Himmler had been stripped of all SS and Party posts by Führer order on 28 April 1945. Decorations & awards: Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves 22 August 1944 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht 27 August 1944 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. and Kdr. 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Brigade "Wallonien" / Kampfgruppe Wagner / Armee-Abteilung Narwa / Heeresgruppe Nord, Northeastern Front 20 February 1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer d. R., and Führer SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" / 8.Armee / Heeresgruppe Süd, Eastern Front 9 October 1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. and Kdr. 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" / 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" / III.(germanische) SS-Panzer-Korps / Armee-Abteilung Grasser / Heeresgruppe Nord, Northeastern Front 25 May 1942; 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 3 March 1942; 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 14 September 1944; Nahkampfspange III.Stufe (Gold) 19 March 1944; Nahkampfspange II.Stufe (Silber) 30 November 1943; Nahkampfspange I.Stufe (Bronze) (other documents indicate 23 December 1943 and 20 February 1944) 25 August 1942; Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber 19 March 1944; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold 20 February 1944; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber (another document indicates 23 December 1943) 15 August 1942; Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)